Amritsar MC officials, SGPC chief discuss cleanliness drive plan

With the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee taking up the cleanliness work around the Golden Temple in its hands, the MC authorities on Wednesday swung into action and held a meeting with SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and senior office-bearers.

Even as municipal commissioner Pradeep Kumar held discussions with SGPC office-bearers, the MC wants to run its drive independently and has no plans of collaboration with the SGPC in this regard.

“During the meeting, we shared our work plan with SGPC office bearers and president. We have also constituted special teams — led by officials of health, and operation and maintenance departments — to take care of the cleaning operations,” he said.

He added that the drive would initially focus on four main areas — the approach road from Hall Gate to the Golden Temple; the Golden Temple to Sikandri Gate; and Ghee Mandi to Sheranwala Gate. “The cleaning operations will be conducted from 6am to 2pm and 2pm to 10pm,” he said.

The municipal commissioner added that 18 new dustbins would be placed at all these locations, while two auto-rickshaws, four tractor-trolleys, six cycle rickshaws and 10 handcarts would be pressed into service for lifting garbage.